Inspired By...Lovely Packaging

[ I follow several blogs on a regular basis. Here's another one that inspires me. Hope you enjoy it too ].

One of my favorite blogs to spend way too much time on is lovely package. And lovely it is. Regular updates with wonderful photos of amazing, innovative, creative, tasteful packaging designs. A great resource for inspiration for any design project.

Featuring Features

> I'm currently working on a brand for a company whose target audience includes wealthy individuals or companies. So, I discussed doing some things that communicate a message of refinement, taste, and the ability to use money wisely without going overboard on flamboyance.

> There are several collateral items in the works, but business cards needed to happen first.

> We considered several print techniques, but eventually landed on using a heavier duplex stock with a ribbed texture on one side. A silver metallic ink was used to print information on the dark navy side of the paper—enough contrast to be readable, but also to bring in the richness of silver, which also ties into the company name, also printed in silver, but with a raised technique to make it pop off the card and give an additional textural quality. And the best part: the logo is not only printed but embossed, with an intentional "empty" space on the back of the card. The embossing job was done so well, that even with the fine detail, it almost appears to be a debossed logo when you're looking at the back of the card.

> A lot of special techniques, but done in just the right amounts so rather than being overboard, it's a complementary grouping of features that helps to communicate money spent, but responsibly. The right message to send to their own clients.

Thinking on Paper

> When I was taking my first design classes in college, computers weren't associated with the "art" building (yes, I'm dating myself here). We all had sketchbooks that were full of ideas, concepts, doodles, drawings, and with the beginning of any project, the thinking started on paper. By the time I finished school and had my degree, designers were starting to incorporate computers as production tools, but only for technical things. Designers were still working out concepts and designs on paper before ever taking them digital.

> I was talking to a friend the other day. He's a professor and teaches design courses at a nearby university. We were laughing about how his students give him quizzical looks when he mentions the term "sketchbook", or mentions working out concepts on paper first, rather than just starting on the computer.

> Occasionally I'll start my designs on the computer - depends on what type of project I'm working on, but I feel more comfortable if I have several sketches that I've worked up on paper first. I think better on paper! I can get out more ideas, and get a sense if they're feasible more quickly when I start with sketches.

> I'm sure the "new" designers who don't know anything different, do their best thinking on the computer, but for me, I'm glad I was on the bridge between both traditional and digital design. I can pick and choose between whatever technique and tool is going to produce the best results.